Biliaivka Territorial Community

History

Biliaivka is the largest population center of the community of the same name, which has a rich history closely related to the development of Lower Transnistria.

The first mentions of the settlement date back to the late 18th century. It was at this time that the Cossacks of the Black Sea Army, who played an important role in the colonization and protection of the southern territories, settled here. Thus, Anton Holovatyi, one of the famous Cossack leaders, is considered the founder of the settlement. He played a key role in the establishment of settlements along the Dnister, and Biliaivka in particular.

During the 19th century, Biliaivka became an important trade point on the Dnister. Its location near Odesa and the Black Sea contributed to the development of trade, fishing and agriculture. Water transport was the main means of transportation, and the Dnister River provided communication with other regions.

In the 20th century, Biliaivka became part of the Odesa region. During the Second World War, the town was occupied, but quickly recovered after liberation.

The post-war years became a time of active development of agriculture, in particular viticulture and fishing, which still remain important branches of the local economy.

The community is attractive due to its proximity to Odesa and the Black Sea, while at the same time immerses itself in the untouched nature of the Dnister delta. Visitors can enjoy bird tourism, watching thousands of birds migrating between continents. Autumn is especially impressive with the phenomenon of murmuration – the dance of flocks of birds.

Biliaivka is also known for its traditional cuisine: fish soup, which was included in the list of intangible cultural heritage of Ukraine, prepared according to ancient recipes of local masters, local wine and vertuta with various fillings became the hallmark of the town.

The natural world is the main tourist highlight of Biliaivka. It is surrounded by picturesque meadows and lakes that form the Dnister delta. However, due to the war, access to some protected areas is restricted and tours are only conducted on fixed routes on weekends.

Today, Biliaivka is actively developing, while preserving its historical and cultural heritage. The community has a rich history associated with the Cossacks of the Black Sea Army and is an example of preservation of history and nature in modern Ukraine.

Economy and Welfare

The economic sector of the Biliaivka community includes agriculture, industry, infrastructure services and tourism. Modern agricultural technologies and strategic location, and the availability of water resources in particular, contribute to the development of the community and employment of the population.

Infoxvodokanal LLC, Dniester Water Treatment Facilities is located on the territory of the community. It is a unique enterprise which ensures water supply to a large part of the Odesa region. This key infrastructural feature emphasizes the role of the community as the guardian of the purity and safety of drinking water for most of the population centers in the region.

The economy of the community is also based on the introduction of modern technologies in agriculture. The structure of production is dominated by crop production, especially the cultivation of grain, oil, vegetable and fodder crops. Despite the challenges of wartime, all 100% of agricultural entities continue their activities, which indicates the stability of the local agricultural sector.

The community has great potential in the development of tourism. In 2023, tourist routes were restored and modernized, and their service for visitors was ensured.

Vitmark Agro LLC was relocated in the community which not only contributed to the creation of new jobs, but also increased income to the local budget.

The community also actively supports the construction of wind power plants. This new enterprise, registered on the territory of the community, not only creates jobs, but also contributes to the development of ecologically clean energy.

In addition, in 2023, the construction of a greenhouse complex for growing berries began as part of the investment project “Creation of a Berry Cluster”. Further plans include building a complex for freezing products, organizing logistics and involving local farmers in this project.

Community and War

On February 24, 2022, the calm and ordered life of the Biliaivka community changed forever. From that day on, all the residents united to help the military and bring the joint victory closer.

Men stood up en masse to defend their country in the ranks of territorial defense forces, some joined the public organization “Biliaivka Self-Defense”. They patrolled the streets of the town day and night, ensuring order and safety of the residents of the community.

The women of the community played an equally important role. They united to prepare food for the military and volunteers, gathered in schools, kindergartens and homes, where they jointly baked pastries, made dinners, organized collections of warm things, technical equipment and medicines for the front. Teams of educational institutions wove camouflage nets, collected basic necessities and handed them over to the front line.

Several new public organizations were quickly created on the territory of the community, which were actively engaged in helping the military and supporting local residents. These organizations arranged collections for technical equipment, warm clothing and food, which were transferred to hot spots. Thanks to this, community volunteer initiatives became the basis for supporting the army and helping war victims.

When the disaster at the Kakhovka HPP occurred in 2023, the NGO “Biliaivka Self-Defense” with the support of the Biliaivka Town Council, volunteers and local residents organized the delivery of humanitarian aid to the residents of Kherson Region. About 20 tons of aid were collected, which the first trucks delivered to the still flooded towns and villages.

During the full-scale invasion, the community also hosted more than 1,000 internally displaced persons. Here they are provided with social services and assistance.

The young people of the Biliaivka community also joined charity and volunteer initiatives. They organize fundraisers and conduct various charity events.

Volunteers of the community continue to regularly organize trips to the regions of Kherson, Kharkiv, and Donetsk, delivering necessary items for the survivors and military. Residents of the Biliaivka community actively participate in charitable initiatives and make donations to support the army and restore the affected regions of Ukraine.

People of the Community

Since 2002, the Biliaivka community has been headed by Mykhailo Bukhtiyarov, under whose leadership significant positive changes have taken place.

It was from this time that the systematic development of infrastructure began in the town. Roads, residential buildings, and public areas were improved. The construction and reconstruction of a number of social facilities began, and the number of utility companies increased – from one in 2002 to ten today.

Large-scale projects to improve communal infrastructure were implemented here. 15 km of new water mains were built and 35% of the old ones were replaced.

The community also gasified all neighborhoods and restored street lighting.

The community is also actively developing the social sphere. Cultural and sports facilities were built or reconstructed, such as the House of Culture, a sports stadium, as well as the Dnister Information and Tourist Visit Center, built with EU grant funds. Special attention was paid to the “Drinking water” program and the introduction of phyto-technologies for the modernization of treatment facilities.

In addition, Biliaivka has become a center for the development of green tourism in the Odesa region. The town received a diploma from the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for participation in the “Tourist Ukraine” project, which indicates significant achievements in the field of tourism.

The community also joined international programs such as the “Agreement of Mayors” and the Interreg Europe program, which promotes the development of green technologies, education and social initiatives. Projects to support internally displaced persons have been implemented with the assistance of international organizations such as UNICEF and USAID.

In the Biliaivka multidisciplinary hospital, the major repair of the access ramp to the admission department, including the arrangement of the canopy, has been completed.

Young people also actively participate in community life and project implementation. Among them is the UNESCO project “Teaching and learning with the help of intangible cultural heritage”, which was implemented in Biliaivka Lyceum No. 1. Within the framework of this initiative, elements of intangible cultural heritage, in particular the Biliavka soup, were included in educational subjects.

Another important youth project is “School TV”, which was launched as part of the UNICEF program “A Community Friendly to Children and Youth”. It reaches out to more and more young people who are developing their own media skills and contributing to community awareness.

Mykhailo Bukhtiyarov and a team of active residents have created a solid foundation for the development of the community, where every resident feels supported and can be sure of its future.

Development Strategy

In 2021, the Development Strategy of the Biliaivka Urban Territorial Community until 2031 was approved. It defines the main strategic priorities aimed at preserving and developing natural resources, ensuring equal access to services for all residents, creating conditions for the development of a “green” economy and innovative entrepreneurship, developing tourism with improved infrastructure and logistics, as well as supporting agriculture through modernizing the agricultural sector.

Thanks to its active participation in international projects, the Biliaivka community received the “Digital Community” distinction in 2021. Cooperation with the international charitable organization “Eastern Europe Foundation” within the framework of the EGAP project allowed the community to become one of the leaders in the digitization process among the pilot communities of Odesa.

Key achievements in digitization include:

-implementation of the “Svoi” chatbot for operational communication with residents,

– launch of a local weather station that provides data on weather and air conditions,

– the launch of a mobile suitcase in the Administrative Services Center for more convenient access to services,

– introduction of electronic diaries in educational institutions of the community.

The community closely cooperates with the Nizhniy Dnister National Nature Park. An ecological trail “Dnister” was created here, which starts from the territory of the Children’s Beach and goes all the way to the place where the Turunchuk River flows into the Dnister. It is planned to implement the project of creating a recreation area “Picturesque Turunchuk”.

The operation of the recreational and tourist route of inland water transport on certain sections of the Dnister and Turunchuk rivers, including for the organization of recreation and rehabilitation of combatants and their families, was agreed upon.

Work is also ongoing on the introduction of electronic democracy tools, including electronic public consultations, surveys, petitions, and the public budget.

One of the main areas of community development is the attraction of new investors, which will help stimulate economic growth and create new jobs. The Biliaivka community forms its environment as a recognizable and attractive territory for investors, offering profitable investment opportunities and developing new sectors of the economy that contribute to the general well-being of the community.

List of Sources

• Biliaivka Town Council website bilyaivka.od.gov.ua
• Biliaivka.City website bilyayivka.city/articles
• Wikipedia wikipedia.org/wiki